Freedom Is Lost In A Land Of Ignorance & Forgetfulness

Yes, “Freedom Lost”, it cannot be explained any other way. We sat at a corner in the Louisiana Town of Franklinton, outside a gun shop to be specific, and passed out free bumper stickers for those who would sign a petition to support the Second Amendment. We got many more signatures than stickers, but what made all of us ponder was some of the questions asked of us. One individual in particular stood out amongst the rest. He drove up in a four wheel truck with gun racks in the back window and a rifle sitting in the rack nice and plain for all to see. We walked up to him and asked him if he would sign the petition in support of the Second Amendment. What this individual stated nearly took our breath. He looked at us without hesitation and simply asked, “What is the Second Amendment?” Now how hard would it be for any tyrant to remove a part of the Constitution if some people do not even know what it is?

This is the way we lose our freedoms, by not knowing what the very basis of all our freedom is based upon. We do these type of events and it always seems to amaze us when an individual does not know what the Constitution or part of it is. Have we, as a nation, become so involved in our own small little worlds that we have forgotten about the larger picture? Thomas Jefferson stated;

“On every question of construction (of the Constitution) let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.”, Letter to William Johnson from Thomas Jefferson, June 12, 1823, The Complete Jefferson, p322.”

Here we have direct insight to the ideas of what the Constitution was designed for. We see that we as a people should never second-guess this very fine art of written words. We should use it as a guide for us to follow and not try to alter. But if “WE THE PEOPLE” do not know what it means nor what it is, how are we going to support, defend or protect it? Have we failed as a nation to pass on the importance of this document? Jefferson shows just why we as a people should ask the very serious questions of any politician, from the bottom to the top. As a nation, we have to stop this and if need be, replace all those in Congress, the White House and in the Judicial branch who do not support the very basis of the Constitution! If we do not, just how many more individuals will not be able to know what parts of the Constitution apply to them?

Ben Franklin, also one of those men that faced death for even considering signing the Declaration of Independence, stated what seems to be going on today.

“When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.”

Franklin also seemed to speak out to us against the Transportation Security Administration.

How hard is it for people to remember that parts of our Constitution gives us rights that very few nations around the world enjoy? From the words of a few people at some of the rallies in support of the Second Amendment, it would seem that many people just have no idea of where or what rights they have. We would almost be willing to bet that some of those people that bail out into the streets to yell and carry on about losing their rights could not even begin to state what part of the Constitution gave them that right just to protest!

John Adams made some statements that pertain to the very times our nation is in at the moment.

“There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.

If we read this correctly it speaks out against two parties battling out their own ideas and not ideas for the good of the people of the nation nor for the good of the Constitution! How have we as a nation become to almost back away from being wrapped up in our freedom and given that up just for the sake of being a member of a certain party? Do we really need two parties? Why do we need them , so they can argue and fight over every little thing as they do now and get no where at all? If our nation is ever to continue on with the freedom we now have, we as a people have to begin to understand what our Constitution is and why it was written. If we do not understand that, we will be lied to, cheated and told that the Constitution can be changed because it needs to keep up with present times. Obama has said that so maybe John Adams knew this back when he was working on the Constitution and that is why he made that statement! Just as sure that the sun will rise in the morning, the time that we as a people forget what the Constitution means or what it represents, that will be the time when our freedom is lost!

Comments

Leon Puissegur is a Disabled Vietnam Veteran with 3 children and 9
grandchildren. He has been married to the same wonderful lady for 43
years. He is an award winning author and has been writing opinion pieces over the years and in just the
last few years has written 4 books and a large amount of articles on many
sites. You can purchase his books at Amazon. Pick up his latest The Oil Man.

To many people today takes their freedom for granit,as if it couldnt be taken away and dont know what the cost of freedom is and what some have given their lives while other have to live thw horrories of mind and body from fighting for our freedom some of us enjoy.we never think about what it cost for our freedlpr it could be taken away.we have became a land of sheep just waiting onn the wolves to take our lives away without fighting.those that dont follow past history of other countries leaves the door open for them for the same thing to happen.k

Jude O'Connor

You asked that truck driver a question that you knew the answer and he didn't; yet you make fun of him. Last night on worst cooks in America a man put a slice of cheese on a grill thinking he was making toasted cheese, funny but you get my point.

Jude O'Connor

If you think you are represented in Congress, think again after you Google, (number of staff for congress) We elect 535, they appoint thousands to do the job they take credit for.

T. Edward Price

I, for one, could care less about the 2nd Amendment. By what authority did men arm themselves prior to 1791? The Constitution itself allows for the repeal of the Second Amendment, no matter how unlikely. Then what? We need to stop looking to a government document to protect our “rights”, when government could, and HAS, usurped those “rights” continually. Rights ALWAYS contain the option NOT to exercise said rights. We need to understand that Biblical RESPONSIBILITIES give us NO opportunity to “opt out”. Christians were instructed to arm ourselves long before there was a second amendment.

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy
5:8)

“Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property,
unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.” (Matthew 12:29)

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own homestead, his possessions are undisturbed.” (Luke 11:21)

“And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along,
likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword (or 1911 .45ACP, or Glock 23, or
Benelli 12 Gauge, or M4 Carbine, or Savage .338 Lapua) is to sell his coat and
buy one.” (Luke 22:36)

If you are not a Christian, then you can continue to look to man’s law to protect you. You can debate the original meaning of militia, the type of arms protected, and the quartering of soldiers all day long. But for Christians, God- ordained responsibilities trump God-given “rights” every time. This is one reason I urge everyone to abandon the NRA, and turn to GOA (Gun Owners of America) instead. This is the ONLY gun ownership advocacy group that has NEVER compromised, NEVER voluntarily given an inch, unlike the NRA. The Executive Director of the GOA, Larry Pratt, understands that this is not just a political, but also, a spiritual issue, and that Christians have the RESPONSIBILITY to arm themselves, in defense of self, family, community, and nation, government permission or not.

In reference to the article's comment on the gun-toting man who claimed to be ignorant of the 2nd Amendment: "This is the way we lose our freedoms, by not knowing what the very basis of all our freedom is based upon." Could it be that this man revealed the REAL basis for our individual right to be armed? IMHO, he demonstrates the primordial source of ALL legitimate individual human rights: Genetically hard-wired understanding! The BEST thing we can say about the 2nd Amendment is that it ACKNOWLEDGES the fact that our rights are pre-historic, primordial! Neanderthals had rights. They just did not know it in a conscious sense. Nevertheless, they understood it. Dear friends, we all need to stop referring top our rights as "constitutional" because that phrase tends to reinforce the idea that our rights come from the Constitution and by inference, from government. Never forget: We do NOT have rights because we have a government. We have a government because we have rights!

Jude O'Connor

It's like saying you must understand hydraulics, fuel injection, and gravity to drive an automobile.

J J

The Republic ended on Nov. 6, 2012. Obama was re-elected by people who didn't want to see their freebies come to an end, people who believed the lies and are selfish regardless of the cost. They don't understand the reality of the dire situation that Obama and Democrat politicians have put this country in. These circumstances will result in bankruptcy and the inevitable end of these freebies anyway. The sad part is that these lazy, ignorant Obama voters don't know how to take care of themselves and they will suffer the most when the freebies come to a startling halt!!!

http://www.facebook.com/steve.atkinson.948 Steve Atkinson

ignorant people stuck us with the cockroach investing the white house!

http://www.facebook.com/texashale Michael Hale

I hate to tell you this, but you are wrong. TOTALLY wrong. We DO.NOT GET OUR RIGHTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION. We get our rights from God. The Bill of Rights reaffirms those rights. This is a fundamental flaw with peoples understanding of our rights. Please further research and correct. I do agree with your sentiment however and thank you for the column.

Yes folks, American people are just plain dumb and really have no idea what is happening to them. Problem is, these clods are putting the rest of us with a brain in jeopardy. I fought in one war for America and we are heading for another to stop the traitor and his cronies and back stabbing politicians.

ste1021

I bet Obama is amazed that it's been so easy to change our country into a passive, bankrupt, dependent entity filled with voters who sell out for a "free" cell phone. How sad.

http://www.bibleversusconstitution.org/ Ted R. Weiland

Freedom has been lost because Americans have forgotten that does not come with a piece of paper but instead with the Spirit and law of the Lord:

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17)

"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:25)

http://www.bibleversusconstitution.org/ Ted R. Weiland

"...The Scriptures provide no evidence of God-given (or unalienable)
rights. Even life and liberty are not rights, but rather
responsibilities delegated by Yahweh. Of course, rights are much more
popular than responsibilities. Everyone, including homosexuals and
infant murderers, demand their rights, but few are interested in
fulfilling their responsibilities.

"The Puritan idea of rights and liberty was quite different from what the framers had in mind:

'John Winthrop [first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony] … reminded
his fellow-citizens of Massachusetts that a doctrine of civil rights [as
in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights] which looked
to natural or sinful man as its source and guardian [as in the
Preamble] was actually destructive of that very liberty which they were
seeking to protect. True freedom can never be found in institutions
which are under the direction of sinful men, but only in the redemption
wrought for man by Jesus Christ. Christ, not man, is the sole source and
guarantee of true liberty.' (C. Gregg Singer, A Theological
Interpretation of American History (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and
Reformed Publishing Co., 1964) p. 19.)

"R.J. Rushdoony pointed out the sophistry of governments based upon freedom:

'….[A] society which makes freedom its primary goal will lose it,
because it has made, not responsibility, but freedom from
responsibility, its purpose. When freedom is the basic emphasis, it is
not responsible speech which is fostered but irresponsible speech. If
freedom of press is absolutized, libel will be defended finally as a
privilege of freedom, and if free speech is absolutized, slander finally
becomes a right. Religious liberty becomes a triumph of irreligion.
Tyranny and anarchy take over. Freedom of speech, press, and religion
all give way to controls, totalitarian controls. The goal must be God’s
law-order, in which alone is true liberty.' (Rousas John Rushdoony, The
Institutes of Biblical Law (The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing
Company, 1973) p. 581.)...."

For more, see online Chapter 11 "Amendment 1: Government-Sanctioned Polytheism." Click on my name, then our website. Go to our Online Book Page, click on the top entry, and scroll down to Chapter 11.

Davy Crockett

The argument that rights are optional is true, but so are the duties and responsibilities that God gave us that grants those rights. Both are optional because it is a matter of free will. Will you choose to obey God by carrying out your duties and responsibilities and exercising your rights or choose to disobey God by not doing so.

"Shall not be infringed" is an extremely clear phrase with absolutely no wiggle room, as clear as any Bible passage. Yet it is infringed upon and even ignored, how? Why? Simple, it is because bad leaders choose to ignore law just as they will ignore and twist the Bible in a tyrannical theocracy that will fall as it has every other time in history. It is bad leaders that is the problem and the apathy of people who put them there, not our Constitution and form of government as the Christian Founding Fathers intended it to be. Theses same people will destroy the theocracy you propose even faster, while the Christian Founding Father’s government has stood their assaults for over 200 years, God, giving us time to fix it if we as men will govern ourselves, instead of expecting or leaving government to do it for us as a theocracy would have it.

“Rights” as in such as those recognized and guaranteed in the Bill of Rights are real and Biblical in our horizontal relationship with men. These are God given, inalienable rights granted by the duties and responsibilities God has given us in Scripture. Some examples are Gen. 1:26 were we are given dominion over the earth and all that is in it and “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1st Tim. 5:8). Providing means such things as security, food, shelter, etc, so from these passages we see our right to self defense and to bear arms, property rights and security of property etc. Everyone of our true rights can be found in Scripture like this.

Before God, in our vertical relationship what we call “rights” are necessary parts of duties and responsibilities He has given us. Yet before Him, we do have rights, but a different type of rights. As sons of the living God and “co-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17) we have the right to pension Him in prayer (John 14:14). We have all the covenants, birthrights, and promises we can claim as ours with the rights and privileges they include. We also have the right to lose and bind as found in:

"Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 18:18-19

Yes, God reserves His right as Sovereign over all, but He still grants us these rights as Christians and as applicable, as immortal beings “created in His image”. So it is incorrect to say we do not have rights. We truly do, have rights as I have shown above and as our Founding Fathers intended. I do not indorse the current state of our nation, but the foundation of this country was true.

http://www.bibleversusconstitution.org/ Ted R. Weiland

Any rights as sons of God (I prefer to look at them at gifts, which puts the emphasis on God instead of ourselves) has nothing to do with the Bill of Rights, which, for the most part, are both antithetical and hostile to Yahweh's sovereignty and morality, as I demonstrate by comparing the two in "Bible Law vs. the United States Constitution: The Christian Perspective." Click on my name, then our website. Go to our Online Book Page and click on the top entry.

parkLitchfield212

This is the fundemental reason the Progressives demanded the Dep't of Education to become a cabinet position, and be ran by NEA approved directors.
In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church ran everything. Kings swore allegiance to the Church and the Pope. And the clergy forbade any type of education of the general population, even basic reading and writing skills, as a preventive measure against "blasphamy" to the Church or it's policies.
The Department of Education fills the role of the Clergy in these secular times.
It determines what subjects are to be taught.
It determines how teachers are hired, paid and disciplined.
It decides what textbooks are to be used in the schools.
It controls who qualifies for Federal Aid, what is served in the cafeterias, and how long the school year is.
It tells school districts how many "administration" positions each district must establish.
The Department of Education is staffed by non-elected, politically active bureaucrats who answer to no politicians, except the ones who maintain the bureaucrat's power to control the garbage they call education.
Thank you Jimmy Carter, the closet Marxist from Plains, GA.

Jude O'Connor

The elite education directors and we are about 26th in the world and behind many third world Countries. Is it parental discipline? School discipline? or self discipline that makes this difference?

ignorant people always vote stupid, stupid people always vote democrat and for RINOs

bull57

You know I don't know if I agree fully. The sheeple seems to me only concentrate on any issue that directly effects there daily existence. Not tomorrow, not next week or next year. The daily grind of life has them preoccupied on surviving. I have heard so many say," why vote my vote don't mean anything"! Well as we can see that's not true, look who's in he White House!